Advance Auto Parts Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2014 Comparable Cash EPS Growth of 27.7% to $1.89

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP), the largest automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America, serving both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers, today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended October 4, 2014. Third quarter comparable cash earnings per diluted share (Comparable Cash EPS) were $1.89, an increase of 27.7% versus the third quarter last year. These third quarter comparable results exclude $0.08 of amortization of acquired intangible assets, integration costs of $0.14 associated with the acquisition of General Parts International, Inc. (General Parts) and $0.01 of integration costs associated with the integration of B.W.P. Distributors, Inc. (BWP).

"We are pleased with our third quarter performance led by our strong commercial business and contributions from our Team Members in delivering Comparable Cash EPS growth of approximately 28% and an increase in comparable store sales of 1.5% in the quarter," said Darren R. Jackson, Chief Executive Officer. "Heading into the fourth quarter, our base business continues to be on-track against our full-year expectations and we continue to progress as expected against our integration objectives."

Third Quarter 2014 Highlights

Total sales for the third quarter increased 50.6% to $2.29 billion, as compared with total sales during the third quarter of fiscal 2013 of $1.52 billion. The sales increase was driven by the acquisition of General Parts, a comparable store sales increase of 1.5% and the addition of new stores over the past 12 months. Year-to-date, total sales increased 49.6% to $7.61 billion, compared with total sales of $5.09 billion over the same period last year.

The Company's gross profit rate was 45.2% of sales during the third quarter as compared to 50.2% during the third quarter last year. The 501 basis-point decrease in gross profit rate was primarily due to the higher mix of commercial sales which has a lower gross margin rate resulting from the acquisition of General Parts partially offset by acquisition synergy savings in the quarter. Year-to-date, the Company's gross profit rate was 45.4%, a 480 basis-point decrease over the same period last year.

The Company's Comparable SG&A rate was 34.8% of sales during the third quarter as compared to 38.5% during the same period last year. The 367 basis-point decrease was the result of the acquired General Parts business having lower SG&A costs. On a GAAP basis, the Company's SG&A rate was 36.0% of sales during the third quarter as compared to 39.0% during the same period last year. Year-to-date, the Company's Comparable SG&A rate was 35.0% versus 38.8% during the same period last year. Year-to-date, the Company's GAAP SG&A rate was 36.1% versus 39.0% during the same period last year.

The Company's Comparable Operating Income was $236.8 million during the third quarter, an increase of 33.3% versus the third quarter of fiscal 2013. As a percentage of sales, Comparable Operating Income in the third quarter was 10.3% compared to 11.7% during the third quarter of fiscal 2013. On a GAAP basis, the Company's operating income during the third quarter of $209.2 million increased 22.5% versus the third quarter of fiscal 2013. On a GAAP basis, the Operating Income rate was 9.1% during the third quarter as compared to 11.2% during the third quarter of fiscal 2013. Year-to-date, the Company's Comparable Operating Income rate was 10.3% versus 11.4% during the same period last year. Year-to-date, the Company's GAAP Operating Income rate was 9.3% versus 11.2% during the same period last year.

Operating cash flow increased approximately 35.6% to $540.3 million from $398.5 million through the third quarter of fiscal 2013. Free cash flow increased 51.0% to $378.8 million from $250.8 million through the third quarter of fiscal 2013. Capital expenditures through the third quarter were $161.5 million as compared to $147.7 million through the third quarter of fiscal 2013.

“We are pleased with our overall financial performance in the third quarter delivering positive comparable store sales performance, strong growth in free cash flow and 33.3% growth in Comparable Operating Income dollars,” said Mike Norona, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “We continue to stay focused on our base business while meeting our integration milestones and continue to remain on pace to deliver against our full-year guidance for Comparable Cash EPS in the range of $7.50 - $7.60 including achievement of our full-year synergy targets."

Store Information

As of October 4, 2014, the Company operated 5,305 company-operated stores and 109 Worldpac branches, and served approximately 1,350 independently-owned Carquest stores. The below table summarizes the changes in the number of the company-operated stores and branches during the forty weeks ended October 4, 2014.

Dividend

On October 30, 2014, the Company's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share to be paid on January 9, 2015 to stockholders of record as of December 26, 2014.

Investor Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, November 6, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its quarterly results. To listen to the live call, please log on to the Company's website, www.AdvanceAutoParts.com, or dial (866) 908-1AAP. The call will be archived on the Company's website until November 6, 2015.

About Advance Auto Parts

Headquartered in Roanoke, Va., Advance Auto Parts, Inc., the largest automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America, serves both the professional installer and do-it-yourself customers. As of October 4, 2014 Advance operated 5,305 stores, 109 Worldpac branches, and served approximately 1,350 independently-owned Carquest branded stores in 49 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Canada. Advance employs approximately 75,000 Team Members. Additional information about the Company, employment opportunities, customer services, and on-line shopping for parts, accessories and other offerings can be found on the Company's website at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements, as that term is used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements address future events or developments, and typically use words such as believe, anticipate, expect, intend, plan, forecast, outlook or estimate. These forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the benefits and other effects of the acquisition of General Parts; the combined company’s plans, objectives and expectations; expected growth and future performance of AAP, including store growth, capital expenditures, comparable store sales, SG&A, operating income, gross profit rate, free cash flow, integration costs for BWP and General Parts, synergies, expenses to achieve synergies, comparable cash earnings per diluted share for fiscal year 2014; earnings per share impact for the 53rd week of fiscal 2014 and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual future events or results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Such differences may result from, among other things, the risk that the benefits of the General Parts acquisition, including synergies, may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the possibility that the General Parts acquisition may not advance AAP’s business strategy; the risk that AAP may experience difficulty integrating General Part’s employees, business systems and technology; the potential diversion of AAP’s management’s attention from AAP’s other businesses resulting from the General Parts acquisition; the impact of the General Parts acquisition on third-party relationships, including customers, wholesalers, independently owned and jobber stores and suppliers; changes in regulatory, social and political conditions, as well as general economic conditions; competitive pressures; demand for AAP’s and General Part’s products; the market for auto parts; the economy in general; inflation; consumer debt levels; the weather; business interruptions; information technology security; availability of suitable real estate; dependence on foreign suppliers; and other factors disclosed in AAP’s 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013 and other filings made by AAP with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. AAP intends these forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time of this communication and does not undertake to update or revise them as more information becomes available.

NOTE: These preliminary condensed consolidated balance sheets have been prepared on a basis consistent with our previously prepared balance sheets filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for our prior quarter and annual report, but do not include the footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for complete financial statements.

NOTE: These preliminary condensed consolidated statements of operations have been prepared on a basis consistent with our previously prepared statements of operations filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for our prior quarter and annual report, with the exception of the footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements and inclusion of certain non-GAAP adjustments and measures as described in footnote (a) above. Management believes the reporting of comparable results is important in assessing the overall performance of the business and is therefore useful for investors and prospective investors.

NOTE: These preliminary condensed consolidated statements of operations have been prepared on a basis consistent with our previously prepared statements of operations filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for our prior quarter and annual report, with the exception of the footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements and inclusion of certain non-GAAP adjustments and measures as described in footnote (a) above. Management believes the reporting of comparable results is important in assessing the overall performance of the business and is therefore useful for investors and prospective investors.

NOTE: These preliminary condensed consolidated statements of cash flows have been prepared on a consistent basis with previously prepared statements of cash flows filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for our prior quarter and annual report, but do not include the footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.

NOTE: Management uses free cash flow as a measure of our liquidity and believes it is a useful indicator to stockholders of our ability to implement our growth strategies and service our debt. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure and should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, information contained in our condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.